The Founder's Guide to Cybersecurity: What You Actually Need to Know Beyond the Buzzwords

Hey founders, let’s have an honest conversation.

Remember when you first dove into startup finances? You probably thought profit and revenue were all that mattered until you discovered the vast world of unit economics, CAC, LTV, and burn rates. Cybersecurity is similar; it's much bigger than just ransomware headlines and compliance checkboxes. Imagine cybersecurity as a vast ocean. You might be familiar with the surface waves (common threats like phishing), but there's an entire ecosystem beneath that you can't see. Just as you don't need to be a marine biologist to appreciate the ocean's importance, you don't need to be a tech expert to understand cybersecurity's critical role in your business.

The Universe You Don't See

Cybersecurity is like an ocean that conceals its depth beneath the surface. What you know—passwords, antivirus, firewalls—that's just the surface. Below lies a complex ecosystem that's constantly evolving and largely unseen.

Remember that time you thought marketing was just about social media and ads? Then you discovered the depth of consumer psychology, attribution modeling, and brand positioning? Security has similar depths.

The "Wait, What?" Moment

When someone mentions "zero trust architecture," "SIEM," and "EDR" in the same sentence, you nod politely, but inside you're thinking, "Everyone I meet throws out new jargon, and I have no idea what any of this means, but it definitely sounds expensive."

Don't worry. You're not alone. Just like you don't need to be a CPA to understand your company's financial health, you don't need to be a security expert to understand the landscape.

Why This Matters to You

You don’t need to understand quantum cryptography or threat-hunting mechanics. But here's what you should know:

• Your Mental Model Is Probably Incomplete: If you think security is just IT's problem, that's like thinking cash flow is just accounting's problem. If you believe compliance equals security, that’s like thinking passing a health inspection makes your restaurant Michelin-star worthy.
• The Landscape Is Bigger Than You Think: Think of security domains like business functions. Each has its complexity, just like each business function does.

"Your startup's security is like a compass—navigate wisely, or risk losing your way in the digital wilderness."

The Real Eye-Opener

Here's a thought experiment: Remember how different your business looks today compared to what you imagined when you started? Security works the same way.

You might think "We have antivirus and firewalls; we're secure!" That's like saying "We have a product and a website; we're a business!"

How to Think About Security (Without Getting Lost in It)

The Restaurant Analogy: Running a business securely is like running a restaurant:

• Food safety (basic security) is non-negotiable.
• Difference between compliance and robust security: There's a difference between passing health inspections (compliance) and creating an amazing dining experience (robust security).
• Understanding principles: You don’t need to be a master chef (security expert) to run a successful restaurant, but you need to understand food safety principles.

The Investment Portfolio Analogy: Think of security like your investment strategy:

• Diversification: You wouldn't put all your money in one stock.
• Adaptation: You adjust your portfolio as your wealth grows.
• Oversight: You rely on experts but maintain oversight.
• Asking the right questions: You understand enough to ask the right questions.

The New Mental Model You Need

Instead of thinking about security as a checklist, think of it as an ecosystem:

• Interconnected: It's interconnected (like your business operations).
• Evolving: It evolves (like your market).
• Balanced: It needs balance (like your growth strategy).
• Adaptive: It requires adaptation (like your business model).

Founder’s Responsibilities in Security

In an upcoming blog I’ll have a clear CTA for you like what to measure etc. This is a to align you in spirit, don’t worry about the How-To

As a founder, you don’t need to:

• Become a security expert
• Understand every technical detail
• Know all the latest threats

You do need to:

• Recognise the depth of the field
• Understand its importance
• Trust but verify delegated security decisions
• Build security thinking into your culture (No Fear-Mongering Necessary)
• Invest Proportionally (Think ‘Insurance,’ Not ‘Expense’)
• Have a Basic “Oh Crap” Plan
• Make Security a regular topic
• Stay curious and keep learning

In the upcoming blogs I’ll have a clear CTA for you like what to measure etc.

The Mindset Shift

Stop thinking: "What bare minimum security tools do we need?" Start thinking "How does security enable our business vision?"

It’s not easy, but the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Moving Forward

Just like you evolved from "revenue is king" to understanding unit economics, it's time to evolve from "security is IT" to understanding it’s a business enabler.

Remember: You don't need to know everything about security, just like you don't need to know everything about finance, law, or marketing. But you do need to know enough to ask the right questions and make informed decisions.

The cybersecurity universe is vast, but your role isn't to map it all—it's to navigate it wisely.